Amy Michelson

August 12, 2009 | No Comments |

Inspired by old Hollywood and what she terms, “real girl glamour,” Amy Michelson designs wedding gowns that are body conscious and sexy without losing their demure appeal. Her dresses “make both a husband and a grandmother smile,” she joked in an interview at White, Toronto, where she attended a trunk show for her 2009 collection.

Michelson showing her gowns at White, Toronto

One of the first wedding gown designers to move to a leaner silhouette, Michelson is known for her soft and flowing dresses, most of which are cut on the bias to flatter and emphasize the shape of a woman’s body. She works a lot with open backs, long tails of organza, soft bows and lighter fabrics; but while her dresses appear to be completely unstructured and even slinky, they have been built to support. Michelson describes the security of “zipping in” and says she finds brides love the sensation of a dress that cinches them in, especially around the waist. She’s also a fan of muted colours for a create nude or non-coloured effect: white, she says, can have a “thickening effect.”

From Millionaire to Moet to Love Me Tender, Michelson’s love of the dramatic is clearly stamped on her work and evident by the names she gives her gowns; she says the creative process isn’t complete until each gown has the right name. “My gowns are full of goddesses, fairies, wood nymphs and mermaids,” she confessed as we explored the collection. She loves the magical quality of a wedding dress and understands that every bride is searching for that one perfect gown that makes them feel like a princess, even if its not a white ballgown.

Grace

Already designing evening gowns and having started in fashion by re-working vintage pieces for celebrities, Michelson launched her distinct style when she adapted a vintage dressing gown into a more modern shape to create a sophisticated wedding gown; she soon realized there was little like it on the market. A few years later, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s slim, white gown marked a turning point in the shape and structure of gowns and brought Michelson’s style of “glamour fairy” gowns mainstream appeal. Michelson continued to create gowns in her trademark style, offering shapes and designs which are a little less fashion forward for a timeless, romantic feel and has dressed many famous women from Halle Berry and Salma Hayek to Christy Swanson, at her wedding to Lloyd Eisler in February.

Looking forward, Michelson loves the idea of adding texture and a little more architectural structure to her gowns. Already, she’s adding decorative elements like lace ‘leaves’ to her gown Corsage and long rows of unexpected Swarovski buttons to Opening Night for a little unusual bling.